Mortgage Interest Rates in the COVID-19 Economy

Mortgages and interest rates are still talked-about topics in the current economic climate.

Here’s a recap. In January 2020, just prior to the pandemic surfacing in Canada, a five-year fixed rate was trending at approximately 2.89% to 3.09%. Fixed mortgage rates are loosely based on bond yields, which were trading at 1.5%.

The Bank of Canada’s (BoC) overnight rate, or key lending rate was 1.75% and the prime lending rate was 3.95%. Variable mortgage rates and lines of credit are based on the prime rate. At the time, mortgage lenders were offering discounted prime rates for new deals – some as high as 1%.

By March 2020, 5-year bond yields fell as low as 35 basis points and fixed-rate mortgage rates also fell to as low as 2.39%, but then went up to about 2.84 to 2.99%%, but are now starting to trend downwards again.

Also, in March, The BoC, cut its overnight rate three times - - it now sits as .25%. Most lenders also lowered their prime lending rates to 2.45%; however, the deep discounts have disappeared. Variable-rates are sitting at approximately Prime minus 20 basis points, or 2.25%.

It's commonly thought that five-year fixed mortgage rates are connected to five-year bond yields and that cuts to the BoC’s overnight rate will result in lower fixed rates. The two are not actually connected. Similarly, variable-rate mortgages were thought to be connected to the BoC’s overnight rate, and historically this has been the case, but it’s not written in stone.

In the current economic environment, the "traditional” rules are out the window, simply because what the economy is going through is unprecedented and everyone is moving cautiously.

Despite low bond yields and cuts to the prime rate, lenders are considering other factors – the rise in unemployment for one. One of the main indicators pointing to a continued healthy economy is jobs. Without jobs, household budgets get tighter, consumer purchases slow down, manufacturers scramble to reduce inventory, which could lead to lay-offs, and bankruptcies rise. Job loss is also a leading cause of mortgage default.

Statistics Canada reported that the country lost one million jobs in March, but that’s only a glimpse since the data is based on surveys in the week that started March 15. For perspective, economists suggest Canada's unemployment rate right now is likely around 20%, from an "average” of 5%. As you can see, the economic situation has been volatile and conditions can change daily.

Because the outlook is uncertain, and future mortgage defaults may be higher, lenders built risk premiums into their rates and we saw mortgage rates increase, despite the signs that borrowing costs were reduced.

The Government is keeping the economy afloat by injecting billions of dollars of financial support into the economy and, by default, instilling a small degree of confidence in Canadians. However, it’s likely that Canada will be in a recession – as some economist say it is now, and will take many months to recover.

The housing market is a vital component to the success of the Canadian economy. In many respects, the industry can help to stabilize a faltering economy. Having said that, not everyone is out of work and consumers are still buying and selling houses.

There is an end game here and eventually the economy will start humming along. Jobs will return slowly, and low interest rates will likely be around for a while as we start the hard road to recovery.

I am part of TMG The Mortgage Group – an award-winning Canadian mortgage brokerage with a national team of over 800 qualified and accredited mortgage brokers, agents and associates providing residential and commercial mortgage services. Since 1990, TMG has helped over a quarter million Canadians get the best financing solutions and mortgage rates through Canadian mortgage lenders from coast to coast.